Peer Review

Center for Applied Special Technology

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Reviewed:: Apr 16, 2026 by ICT Literacy

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: CAST is a nonprofit education research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning. Their website provides many publications and tools to support integration of technology for inclusive education.
Type of Material:: Collection
Recommended Uses:: Introduce UDL in class using CAST's video and UDL guidelines. For homework, ask each student analyze a research study about UDL and match it with an example of a relevant case story or project. Students can compare their findings in class or in discussion threads. As another assignment, ask students to use one of CAST's free learning tools to design UDL materials, reflect on their experience, and then have them peer-reviewed.
Technical Requirements:: The website works on several browsers.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Define and discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Give 2-3 examples of UDL practice. Design a UDL learning activity6.
Target Student Population:: High School, College General Ed, Professional, Pre-service teachers
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: basic ICT literacy and instructional design skill

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: CAST invented the term Universal Design for Learning, and their research, case studies and project offer high-quality examples of good practice. The site includes "news" to keep users current on developments. Their free learning tools are also developed by CAST through extensive research. The materials reinforce each other. While much of the material targets K-12, CAST also provides open sources, UDL-based resources for college course designers and teachers to make their classes more accessible and effective. This website works well as a stand-alone resource, and enables users to explore concepts at different levels. The material can be used without requiring an assignment or context as an assigned or recommended resource. It provides accurate information in a flexible manner, including an adequate amount of information that summarizes and integrates the concepts well. The website is ADA-compliant, in the spirit of their philosophy.
Concerns:: none

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: CAST's mission is clear: to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. While not explicit, the mission can act as a learning objective that aligns with ICT literacy standards, particularly in terms of accessing information. Its strength is in providing the conditions for ICT literacy. The UDL guidelines build concepts well, and are reinforced in the case stories, projects and tools. Information is succinct and easy to follow. There are many resources that lend themselves to instructional design -- as well as being embedded within a course for students to engage with. The resource is easy to write assignments for, is and is very efficient. The results of using the material are applicable for ICT literacy or its practice.
Concerns:: ICT literacy is inferred, instructors might not see the relationship between UDL and ICT. Prerequisite skills and assessments are sometimes noted within a study or practice, but not as an overarching concept.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:

CAST's website is professional looking and very engaging. The layout and visuals are excellent. It invites hours of browsing. CAST invites users to work with them, although the website itself is not very interactive. Tech is easy to use, and material is searchable. Not only is the website ADA-compliant, but one can even have it "talk" to the user without any other plug-in or program. There is a help feature.

Concerns:

The menu titles are not that informative.

There are several paid areas where interactivity and engagement occurs.

Other Issues and Comments:: This website has been completely overhauled, and even the mission has been refined. CAST was already a good resource; now it is even better.
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